Overview:

Chattanooga FC is jumping leagues.

NEW YORK – Chattanooga FC is jumping leagues.

After finishing atop the National Independent Soccer Association standings during the regular season, the club will join MLS NEXT Pro for the 2024 season.

Chattanooga FC became the second independent team with plans to begin play in the league in the next campaign.

Pending sanctioning approval by the U.S. Soccer Federation, Chattanooga FC will join fellow independent club Carolina Core FC and 27 MLS-affiliated clubs for the league’s third season. Chattanooga is the fourth independent club to join MLS NEXT Pro since its inaugural season, following Jacksonville Armada FC, which was announced earlier this month, and the previously announced Cleveland. Rochester New York FC participated in the league’s 2022 inaugural season, but dropped out.

Chattanooga FC, which is 15 years old, reached the NISA semifinals this past season, before it was upset by sixth-seeded Flower City Union in a shootout, 2-0, after playing to a scoreless draw. Rod Underwood is the head coach and sporting director. CFC competed in NISA for the past three seasons and were Independent Cup champions from the southeast region all three years.

“Since its founding, Chattanooga FC has been a pillar in the community through its efforts both on and off the field. We are thrilled to welcome the Club to our League,” MLS NEXT Pro president Charles Altchek said in a statement. “We look forward to partnering with Davis Grizzard and making a significant and lasting impact in Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley.”

Led by original founders and primary owner and vice chairman Davis Grizzard, CFC features a fan ownership model, with more than 3,200 fans, including 1,800 Chattanoogans, owning shares in the club. There are fan-owners in all 50 states and in more than 30 countries.

“In our history, every time we’ve needed them, our supporters have stood up for CFC,” Grizzard said in a statement. “We know that partnering with MLS NEXT Pro will put more eyes on our community now than ever before. As they’ve done for every major milestone in this Club’s past, we’re excited to see fans celebrate this next chapter.”

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.